10 Most Disturbing WWE PPV Moments You Totally Don't Remember

8. Dolph Ziggler's Concussion Sell (Payback 2013)

Dolph Ziggler Payback 2013
WWE.com

18 months or so earlier, Dolph Ziggler was using his own real pain to tell a story.

After winning the World Title from Alberto Del Rio 24 hours after WrestleMania 29, Ziggler suffered a concussion in a match on SmackDown and missed the following Extreme Rules pay-per-view. WWE would show patience and keep the belt on Dolph before booking him against Del Rio at Payback.

That's where the sickening sight of a struggling Ziggler reeling from stiff kick-after-kick happened. He was working, obviously, but it was still a little bit harrowing to see someone who'd only just recovered from a serious head injury get punted in the skull time and time again. The increased awareness of brain injuries and concussions didn't help.

Again, it was all part of the story, and yet fans in Illinois couldn't help but awkwardly react to each mega-stiff shot to Dolph's head. Using such a scary injury as part of the angle was brave considering it'd only been a month or so since Ziggler was benched.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.